Bangladesh Set to Finalize National AI Policy by July
The Government of Bangladesh is expected to publish the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy by July, aiming to guide the responsible and ethical development and use of AI technologies. The draft policy is currently at the final review stage, according to Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division. He shared this information during a press conference ahead of the upcoming BPO Summit scheduled for June 21–22 at the Sena Prangon venue in Dhaka.
Regarding the policy’s progress, he stated, “The work on the draft of our AI policy began quite some time ago. We hope that after the advisory council’s approval, it will be onboarded (issued) by July. The council’s approval might come in June.”
Similarly, Fayez Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, commented, “Work on the policy is ongoing. It will be finalized soon.”
Addressing potential risks such as automated hacking and spam emails, Clause 3.6 of the draft policy titled “Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence” notes, “The development and use of artificial intelligence technology in Bangladesh will be guided by the preservation of law and order, human rights, dignity, values, and choices. Where necessary, provisions for human intervention and supervision will be included.”
Clause 3.2, titled “Transparency and Accountability,” states, “In alignment with the policy, it will ensure transparency and accountability in data collection, storage, and usage so that AI-based decision-making processes are explainable.”
To facilitate investment and funding in AI, Clause 4.6 titled “Finance, Trade, and Economy” incorporates provisions for evaluating the impacts of AI-driven technologies. Chapter 5, “Implementation of the Artificial Intelligence Policy,” includes institutional, legal, and regulatory aspects. Clause 5.2.2 under “Legal and Regulatory Framework” mentions, “The national strategy will be updated with guidelines and policy directions on AI ethics.”
Chapter 7 of the policy, “Policy Review,” states, “The National Artificial Intelligence Policy will be reviewed every three years. Stakeholder participation will be considered a fundamental element in this process.”
In April, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh, drafted the “Bangladesh Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report.” Developed with funding from the European Union and coordination among a2i, the Cabinet Division, the ICT Division, and UNDP, the report noted that both the “National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2024” and the “National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2019–24)” remain in draft form.
According to the report, “The draft policy is aligned with the core values and principles of UNESCO’s recommendation on the ethics of artificial intelligence. However, it is important to update the policy to reflect recent governance changes so that it aligns with the vision and priorities of the current government.”
